A fatal Indiana crash in which a woman struck and killed three children after driving past their stopped school bus is a stark reminder of how important it is to hit the brakes when kids are getting on and off the bus.

But how often do Delaware drivers really do that?

New data from the state Education Department suggests First State motorists frequently flout the law, unnecessarily putting children's lives at risk.

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Parents wait with their children near Galloway Court Apartments on U.S. 13 for the school bus to pick them up and take them to school on Thursday morning.(Photo: Jennifer Corbett, The News Journal)

"You have to understand these kids are precious," Wilmington mom Quasheema Antley said. Her daughter, Harrington Joquin, is a first-grader at Southern Elementary School outside Delaware City.

She gets on the bus at Galloway Court Apartments on U.S. 13, where drivers frequently ignore the bus' flashing red lights and STOP arm. Often drivers don't hit the brakes until the bus driver honks at them, Antley said.

"We only need five minutes," the frustrated mom said. "That's it. She lays on the horn and lays on the horn.

"Especially on days when there's extremely high traffic, the cars don't stop."

How many are breaking the law?

This past spring, Delaware's public school bus drivers conducted a one-day survey of how many vehicles illegally passed their buses while they were loading and unloading students with their overhead red lights flashing and lighted STOP arms extended.

The results are striking. Keep in mind, all the following violations happened during the course of one day: May 4, 2018.

Bria McIntosh is just as frustrated as Antley. Her 7-year-old daughter Rhyan uses the same bus stop and is a second-grader at South Elementary School.

"I think it's kind of crazy not to stop," said McIntosh, who makes Rhyan wait several feet away from the curb just in case someone hits the bus or jumps the curb.

It's a good precaution considering Rhyan, like most kids her age, aren't necessarily worried about traffic. The second-grader is more interested in getting on the bus so she can talk to her friends.

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7 year-old Rhyan McIntosh, a second grader at Souther Elementary School, waits for her school bus near the Galloway Court Apartments on Hwy. 13 on Thursday morning. Motorist in the are often will not stop when the school bus has the stop sign out signaling traffic to by law stop.(Photo: Jennifer Corbett, The News Journal)

When do you need to stop for a school bus?

If you are behind a school bus, traveling in the same direction, and its lights are flashing and the STOP arm is out, you need to stop.

If you're traveling in the opposite direction, approaching the bus, you still need to stop unless you're on the other side of a roadway with four or more lanes of traffic.

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Buses stop frequently to pick up and drop off students. The law requires drivers to stop when approaching the bus from either direction.
Wochit

You should stop far enough from the bus to allow students to safely get on and off, the Delaware State Police department said.

And be alert. Children can be unpredictable.

Don't start driving again until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm has been retracted.

What about flashing yellow lights?

Ten seconds before a school bus stops, loads or unloads passengers, it will activate its flashing yellow or amber lights. The bus may still be in motion.

You should not pass a bus at this time. Instead, slow down and get ready to stop.

Do not speed up and try to get around the bus before it switches to the red lights.

This is one of the most common mistakes drivers make and could result in serious injury.

Is there a fine for breaking the law?

Yes, if you don't stop for a school bus, you can be fined.

For the first offense, the fine is between $115 and $230. You could also face 30 to 60 days in prison, according to state statute.

If convicted, your driver's license can be suspended for up to 12 months.

For each subsequent offense, within three years of the first, you could face up to $575 in fines and up to six months in prison.

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Neighbor talks about dangerous road where three young siblings were killed, one child critical, when hit while crossing to get on school bus.
Kelly Wilkinson, kelly.wilkinson@indystar.com

How common are crashes?

Sgt. Richard Bratz with Delaware State Police could only find two crashes involving stopped school buses in recent history.

In October 2013, five children and one adult were injured when an SUV struck a school bus in front of Frederick's Trailer Lodge on U.S. 13 in Townsend, according to ABC 6
Action News.

The bus had stopped to pick up students from Old State Elementary School. One fifth-grader was boarding the bus and was thrown to the ground, where he hit his head and the SUV narrowly missed hitting him.

The second crash was in December 2017 on Del. 41 near the Pennsylvania state line in Hockessin. It's unclear if anyone was injured.

State Police have responded to several other crashes involving school buses, but they did not have their lights on and STOP arms out.

In fact, most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related crashes are pedestrians, many hit by motorists illegally passing stopped buses, according to the Delaware Department of Education.

Once a bus begins rolling down the road, a child is, statistically speaking, safer inside the bus than outside it. Students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a school bus than a car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

What can I do to protect my kids?

“I want drivers to know that it is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus when the red lights are flashing and the stop arms are extended,” she said in a YouTube video. “Failing to do so puts precious lives at risk. As a country, we need to do better. We must keep our children safe.”

The agency also had several safety tips for students and their caregivers:

Arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Stand at least three giant steps (6 feet) away from the curb. The bus stop is not a place to run or play.

When the school bus arrives, wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver says it’s okay before approaching the bus door. Use the handrails to avoid falling.

Never walk behind a school bus. Walk on a sidewalk or along the side of the street. Cross the street in front of the bus with at least five giant steps (10 feet) between the front of the bus and you. Make eye contact with the bus driver before crossing to make sure the driver can see you.

If you drop something near the school bus, like a ball or book, tell the bus driver right away. Do not try to pick up the item, because the driver might not be able to see you.

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The scene is investigated on State Rd. 25 in Rochester, IN, where a pickup truck hit and killed three young children and critically injured a fourth as the children crossed the street to get on this school bus, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The bus was stopped with lights and stop indicators in use. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

The scene is investigated on State Rd. 25 in Rochester, IN, where a pickup truck hit and killed three young children and critically injured a fourth as the children crossed the street to get on a school bus, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The bus was stopped with lights and stop indicators in use. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

The scene is investigated near 4600 North IN State Rd. 25 north of Rochester, IN, where a pickup truck hit and killed three young children and critically injured a fourth as the children crossed the street to get on a school bus, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The bus was stopped with lights and stop indicators in use. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

The Fulton County Coroner leaves with the bodies of three children killed near 4600 North IN State Rd. 25 north of Rochester, IN, where a pickup truck hit and killed the three young children and critically injured a fourth as the children crossed the street to get on a school bus, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The bus was stopped with lights and stop indicators in use. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

An Indiana State Police helicopter gets ready for takeoff as the scene is investigated near 4600 North IN State Rd. 25 north of Rochester, IN, where a pickup truck hit and killed three young children and critically injured a fourth as the children crossed the street to get on a school bus, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The bus was stopped with lights and stop indicators in use. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

The scene is investigated near 4600 North IN State Rd. 25 north of Rochester, IN, where this pickup truck hit and killed three young children and critically injured a fourth as the children crossed the street to get on this school bus, right, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The bus was stopped with lights and stop indicators in use. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

The scene is investigated near 4600 North IN State Rd. 25 north of Rochester, IN, where this pickup truck hit and killed three young children and critically injured a fourth as the children crossed the street to get on this school bus, right, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The bus was stopped with lights and stop indicators in use. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

An Indiana State Police helicopter takes off near 4600 North IN State Rd. 25 north of Rochester, IN, where a pickup truck hit and killed three young children and critically injured a fourth as the children crossed the street to get on a school bus, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The bus was stopped with lights and stop indicators in use. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

The scene is investigated near 4600 North IN State Rd. 25 north of Rochester, IN, where this pickup truck hit and killed three young children and critically injured a fourth as the children crossed the street to get on this school bus, right, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The bus was stopped with lights and stop indicators in use. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

The scene is investigated near 4600 North IN State Rd. 25 north of Rochester, IN, where a pickup truck hit and killed three young children and critically injured a fourth as the children crossed the street to get on a school bus, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The bus was stopped with lights and stop indicators in use. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Monika Manuszak talks about how dangerous the road is where she lives, near 4600 North IN State Rd. 25 north of Rochester, IN, where a pickup truck hit and killed three young children and critically injured a fourth as the children crossed the street to get on a school bus, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The bus was stopped with lights and stop indicators in use. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

The scene is investigated near 4600 North IN State Rd. 25 north of Rochester, IN, where this pickup truck hit and killed three young children and critically injured a fourth as the children crossed the street to get on this school bus, right, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The bus was stopped with lights and stop indicators in use. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

The scene is investigated near 4600 North IN State Rd. 25 north of Rochester, IN, where a pickup truck hit and killed three young children and critically injured a fourth as the children crossed the street to get on a school bus, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The bus was stopped with lights and stop indicators in use. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar